Wentzville’s pit bull ordinances could disappear in less than amonth.
In their place, the city would enact new animal control lawsthat target irresponsible owners instead of specific dogbreeds.
The Board of Aldermen on Wednesday reviewed a draft of theproposed ordinance, presented by Police Chief Lisa Harrison. Arevised version will be introduced Feb. 8. The aldermen couldapprove the bill that night or wait to vote on it during their Feb.22 meeting.
Dog owner Amanda Kearney, 25, said she hoped the board wouldenact the law as soon as possible. Kearney owns two Great Danemixes that the city has identified as pit bulls.
Wentzville does not allow pit bulls, pure or mixed, to beoutside a home or kennel unless the dogs are leashed and muzzled.The dogs must be confined indoors or in a locked pen. If the dogsare inside a house, the windows must be closed.
Since September, Kearney has kept her dogs inside her house mostof the time, she said. When they do go out, she must keep them on4-foot leashes and muzzled. This makes it hard to walk the dogs,because they cannot pant to regulate their body temperature.
“I want my dogs to be able to run outside in a fenced-in yard,”Kearney said Wednesday. “These dogs are driving me nuts inside thehouse. They have a lot of energy they need to get out.”
Kearney said she was happy with the proposed ordinance. Gone arethe muzzle and kennel requirements. Unlike the current law, whichincludes a section focusing on pit bulls, the draft ordinance doesnot mention any particular breed.
Instead, it contains provisions prohibiting owners from allowingtheir dogs to freely roam the streets; punishes owners who fail tocontrol their animals; and restricts nuisance animals thathabitually run at large, disturb the peace by constantly barking orhowling, or cause fear by threatening to bite or attack someone.The bill also would make it illegal to own or harbor an animal witha dangerous, vicious or ferocious disposition.
The existing pit bull provisions would be stricken.
About 20 people supporting the change and a handful of peopleopposing it attended the board meeting, which lasted five hoursWednesday night. The pit bull discussion comprised the thirdhour.
O’Fallon Councilman Jim Pepper, Ward 2, addressed the Wentzvillealdermen during the public comment period, identifying himself asthe author of O’Fallon’s animal control ordinance, which hesponsored. During previous meetings, Wentzville aldermen pointed toO’Fallon’s law, which does not single out pit bulls, as a modelthey wanted to emulate.
Pepper said breed-specific laws were based on hysteria insteadof fact. He said such laws caused hardships for responsible petowners, made criminals of law-abiding people, discouragedveterinary care, and drove stigmatized breeds underground. Hecalled muzzling “inhumane.”
Alderman Chris Gard, Ward 2, said he wanted the new ordinance toinclude stiffer penalties for owners who failed to control theirdogs. He said the draft ordinance seemed to lump together the”failure to control” and “nuisance animals” provisions with the”regulation of animal feces” section that would require owners toclean up after their dogs. The same penalties would apply to all —a minimum $50 fine for the first offense, $100 for the second and$150 for the third.
“The penalties for a dog biting a human are the same as notpicking up dog poop,” Gard said.
To make sure the penalties “really make a statement,” Gard saidhe wanted $500 with possible jail time on the first or secondoffense. The majority of the board agreed the penalties need to bestiffer than what was in the initial draft.
A provision in the section dealing with animal neglect wouldprohibit owners from leaving animals outside when the temperaturefalls below 32 degrees or exceeds 85 degrees.
Alderman Rick Stokes, Ward 3, said this would pose a problem forpeople who own hunting dogs. Stokes said hunting dog ownerstypically leave their animals outside because that is what is bestfor the dog. They have proper kennels outside that the dog canaccess when it wants to, he said. Hunters invest a lot of money intheir dogs and would not do anything to harm them, he said.
Veterinarian Mark Lucas agreed. Lucas owns Animal Talk MedicalCenter in Wentzville, which serves as the city’s animal controlholding facility. Lucas, an opponent of breed-specific laws, saidanimals need to be housed under conditions that are consistent withthat breed and its use.
“To put a Chihuahua outside in 32 degrees is wrong,” Lucas said.”To put a Siberian Husky in 32 degrees is normal. To put it in 80degrees is cruel.”
Harrison said police cannot always consult a veterinarian whenmaking decisions in the field. Lucas said that is part of his job,to consult with police on a daily basis.
Alderman Nick Guccione, Ward 3, said he was concerned that thedraft ordinance defined biting as “breaking the skin,” includingscratches. A dog could unintentionally scratch someone in thecourse of playing, he said.
Lucas said animals scratch him in his office every day, but theyare not vicious and the scratching is not the owner’s fault. Thatis why animal control officers need to conduct an investigationwhen an animal is accused of vicious behavior, he said. Gard saidhe thought officers would know the difference and common sensewould prevail.
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![1328571469 18 EC Twins play Sangria in Hermosa Beach [MUSIC PREVIEW]](http://www.teenpopillusionist.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/164/files/2012/02/1328571469-18.jpg "EC Twins play Sangria in Hermosa Beach [MUSIC PREVIEW]")